Tube Talk's Best of the Rest 2011

The Tube Talk team meeting to decide which shows will make our annual Top 25 is always a difficult affair - inevitably, some of our favorite shows from the past year had to fall by the wayside...

So for 2011, we thought we'd cheat, just a little. You can check out our official rundown - from 25 to 1 - via the links below, but here's our thoughts on a few of the shows that didn't quite make the cut. It's Tube Talk's Best of the Rest!

LutherIdris Elba's moody detective proved more popular than ever in 2011, but for our money, series two didn't quite match up to last year's episodes. Elba was fantastic as always, but there wasn't nearly enough of either Luther's pouting psychopathic sidekick Alice (Ruth Wilson) or the mercurial Mark North (Paul McGann). And can we ditch the 'spunky' (read: annoying) Jenny (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) next time please?

SpooksThis BBC spy drama has waxed and waned over the years, but the tenth series saw Spooks back on top form. Cut down to a lean six episodes, the final run unfolded with a great deal of pace, excitement and emotion. Harry (Peter Firth) got a fitting send-off, remaining loyal to the service despite the loss of his beloved Ruth (Nicola Walker). All that and Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen) came back for a cameo too!

Christopher and His KindMatt Smith proved that there was more to him than a certain Time Lord with this engaging and often moving adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's autobiography. Visually, Christopher and His Kind was a treat and great performances from Smith, Douglas Booth and Lindsay Duncan made this one-off a 2011 drama highlight.

An Idiot Abroad 2 - The Bucket ListAlright, so technically speaking Karl Pilkington's latest string of televised humiliations doesn't fall under our Top 25 remit - all other comedy or drama candidates fell under the scripted category. But Idiot Abroad 2 earns a place in Tube Talk's 'Best of the Rest' simply by being one of the funniest shows we saw all year - Karl's Glee sing-a-thon (see below) was the undoubted highlight.

The HourReaction to Abi Morgan's '50-set BBC period drama was mixed and it certainly proved divisive among the Tube Talk team. However, points for some terrific performances from the lead cast - Dominic West, Romola Garai and Ben Whishaw were all faultless - as well as the superb production design and moody noir-ish atmosphere.

SuburgatoryThere are shades of Emma Stone's Easy A character in redhead Tessa Altman (Jane Levy) - she's quick-witted, acerbic and a social outsider after being forced to move from Manhattan to the suburbs by her father George (Jeremy Sisto). Funny and relatable, this fresh sitcom is partly a satirical look at the plastics of the new town, but most endearing is the lead duo's father-daughter relationship.

DamagesSeason four was more of a slow burn, but it allowed Rose Byrne to take center stage as Ellen Parsons had to ultimately decide whether fulfilling her lofty career ambitions was worth ruining her personal life. Her journey lead to a series of awesome moments in the finale, paving way for an intriguing dynamic between Ellen and Patty (Glenn Close) next year.

ArcherThe raunchy spy animation series really upped the ante in 2011. Pushing the boundaries even further while having more character-driven storylines, it was an absolute hoot throughout with a voice cast that was stellar across the board (especially H Jon Benjamin and Judy Greer). We might go on our very own RAMPAGE to force everyone to start watching this delightful show.

ParenthoodParenthood might not be the highest-rating show that's ever been on television, but it deserves a lot more attention than it gets. It's quietly charming and oh-so-believable - it's bizarre to think more shows haven't realized that people actually talk over each other in real life. And the stories are always entertaining but never too out there. In fact, there's always something that rings true. Add in a stellar cast and you have a fabulous series.

The Crimson Petal and the WhiteThe Crimson Petal and the White may have just missed out on our top 25, but it gets our vote for 'Best of the Rest' based on the simple fact that it is like no other period drama we have ever seen. With superb performances from Romola Garai, Mark Gatiss, Shirley Henderson and Chris O'Dowd - as you've never seen him before (and we've seen it all now) - the drama perfectly captured the horror of Victorian London with beautiful cinematography and a fantastic, gripping plot.

The Good WifeOn the face of it, The Good Wife is simply another courtroom procedural. But of course, it's really much, much more than that. Julianna Margulies is superb as the often-inscrutable lead, but the supporting cast is ridiculously strong - particular mention has to go to the superb Archie Panjabi and Alan Cumming as Kalinda and Eli. With genuinely emotional scenes, sizzling chemistry, and captivating moments, The Good Wife deserves all the acclaim it gets.

Black MirrorWe've been hoping for a strong anthology series for a while, so we were thrilled when Charlie Brooker announced that he would be making one just for us! And Black Mirror didn't disappoint, either - everyone was talking about that pig scene, and the second and third episodes kept the standard up too. Can we have some more please?

American Horror StoryThis show is probably one of the most love-it-or-hate it things on television at the moment, but we think it's really rather good. Like nothing you've ever seen before, and packing in the classic horror references, American Horror Story is chilling, disturbing and thoroughly entertaining. The episodes fly by... and then stay with you as you shiver in bed at night! You never know what's going to happen next in this show, but that's just the way we like it.

Boardwalk EmpirePerhaps surprisingly, Boardwalk Empire divides our Tube Talk team - some of us love it, while others find it a bit dull, which is why it didn't quite squeeze into the Top 25. But for this writer's money, the show has gone from strength to strength, with the political machinations becoming even more fascinating. Without spoiling anything for those who haven't seen the second season yet, the shocks just kept coming - we can't wait to see what happens next.

ExileWe weren't sure what to expect from Exile, but it ended up being one of the most compelling dramas of the year. John Simm and Jim Broadbent were brilliant as always, but the real revelation was Olivia Colman - better known for her comedy work, she absolutely shone in a tough dramatic role (now Tyrannosaur is out, perhaps this isn't as surprising any more). And the story was pretty darn good, too.

What shows have we missed out from our Top 25 and Best of the Rest? Let us know below!